Pakistan may split again

Fears scientist Quadeer Khan

Abdul Quadeer Khan

Star Report

Pakistan is at present in a worse situation than it was in 1971, and it would begin to disintegrate again if the current social problems are not solved, Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Quadeer Khan said.

"The present situation in the country is not very different from that of 1971. Then, as now, the rulers and the establishment were under the illusion that they could and would crush their opponents," he said.

Khan made the remarks in an article titled "Events of 1971" published in The News International yesterday.

Mentioning the Liberation War in 1971, and the birth of Bangladesh in the aftermath, he said "The country [Pakistan] is at present plagued with all kinds of social evils.

"If we don't rectify this soon, the day will not be far off when we disintegrate again."

In order to rectify the situation, the noted scientist opined that the first and foremost necessity is to "disengage ourselves from the foreign war and put our own house in order".

In the article, Khan also said all nations go through ups and downs -- they have glorious periods and tragic ones. People usually ignore and forget the tragic ones while celebrating the good events with great pomp.

"It is most unfortunate that we in Pakistan have also not learnt any lessons from our past tragic mistakes. The breaking up of Pakistan on December 16, 1971, was one such recent event," he said.

Millions of Pakistanis are fully aware of the reasons behind that tragedy. But it seems that the (Pakistani) rulers and the establishment were oblivious to these, despite the fact that it was such a traumatic experience.

The country was broken up, hundreds of thousands of people were killed, women were raped and almost 92,000 army and other personnel were taken prisoner, he said, adding that nobody was held responsible for such a big and tragic disaster.

"We saw our own army killing our own people. It is a well-known fact that, when given absolute power, people become cruel. I was ashamed to see that such cruel acts could be perpetrated by Muslims against Muslims -- Pakistanis against fellow-Pakistanis," Khan said in the article.

Everybody was aware of the fact that West Pakistani baboos [gentlemen] considered East Pakistan a colony and treated its citizens in the same way as the British used to treat the West Pakistanis.

It was unfortunate that both the (Pakistani) political and military leaders are under the illusion (as happened in previous eras) that they can crush their opponents.

They could not manage to do that to a very docile nation in 1971, how then can they contemplate crushing a martial race? They will be fighting for a thousand years and bleed the country to destruction and disintegration, he said.

The rulers and the establishment are using poor, brave soldiers as cannon fodder for the sake of a paltry sum in dollars.

"We have forgotten how to protect our own borders and sovereignty," Khan added.

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If Pakistan splits then it is time for India to split also to maintain balance of power in the Sub-Continent

: Najmul Huq

Excellent and insightful observations. The escalation of insurgence activity is comparable to Rhodesian fight against Mugabe, which started as extra police supervision and grew to a full-scale, budget guzzling, young men conscripting war, that was eventually lost after many years. It has been more than ten years since the Afghanistan war and three years since the formal opening of the Pakistan military's attack in Swat valley. The country is still at war with frequent insurgent attacks. These are frightening signs of a prolonged battle and perhaps defeat by attrition.

: QTS

Comments

Pakistani misses the opportunity to boss over us. They miss the easy access to extract the tribute by draining our wealth. Punjabi arrogance and show of superiority is now directed towards other provinces, especially Balochistan and the NWFP. The internecine tribal and religious feuds within Pakistan are stifling the life blood of the nation. So many think now that the situation could have been otherwise if moderate minded Bengalees could be within Pakistan. But be sure, there is no regret on their part for their misdeeds of 1971.

Slaughtering and exterminating innocents in the name of Islam are the best medicines that Pakistan ISA authorised to form Bangladesh. American dollars are siphoned by the ultra Pak junta and politicians instead of investing in people's economic and social improvements; making the soil a safe haven for religious terrorists and all other anti-people corruptions have an end that what scientist-- a rational mind is predicting. It is scientifically and statistically valid forecast. India is a perfect secular country. In the midst of corruptions among the high-ups, still there is a democracy and finally there is to state-run terrorism against any nation. So, India will never disintegrate if only the highly privileged and accelerated birth rate minorities do not want another Pakistan.

abcTuesday, December 18, 2012 03:56 AM GMT+06:00 (115 weeks ago)

If and when Balochistan becomes a separate, they will surely progress. The present day mainland Pakistan cannot be in a leader's position, when they are confused about their own race and background, with distorted history. Bengalis of Bangladesh were always proud and confident about both their Bengali and Islamic identities, and hence it has progressed way beyond Pakistan, because of their confident social structure. Balochistan should try to learn from Bangladesh's successful example.

AQ Khan is no better than most Pakistanis who consider Bangladeshis as docile. No people are docile or martial. Situations only make people docile or martial. Bengalis for centuries have fought for freedom whenever it was required. Bengalis and Punjabis have provided the biggest resistance against the British.

FZTuesday, December 18, 2012 05:59 AM GMT+06:00 (115 weeks ago)

Is not it the same Quadeer Khan who once told if Pakistan had nuclear weapons, there would have been no Bangladesh? Now what's behind his sudden realisation of the futility of a military solution? May be some political equation which would be apparent in the coming days. But his typical Pakistani mentality could not be fully kept hidden; they still think Benaglis are 'very docile nation'!

Dev SahaTuesday, December 18, 2012 07:39 AM GMT+06:00 (115 weeks ago)

That would be a logical conclusion when country's strongmen think they have the God given right to dictate and rule. Democracy and Pakistan are incompatible.

mahafujTuesday, December 18, 2012 11:41 AM GMT+06:00 (115 weeks ago)

The main problem I think is Pakistan didn't keep its word to establish an Islamic state, main reason behind the partition. Politicians don't properly believe in democracy or in Islam.

It is pretty amusing to obverse that some Pakistanis are now coming to terms with a state called Bangladesh. Besides condemning genocide of 1971, we even now discover heroes among them and gullibly accept their versions without documentary proof and other evidences. We forget that even landing in jail is no proof of a person’s activism for the cause of Bangladesh and when, after March 26, 1971?

Salam Tuesday, December 18, 2012 12:39 PM GMT+06:00 (115 weeks ago)

Looks like Bangladeshi's are happy; just watch and see how your Indian master treats you once Pakistan split.

BAL and BNP feud is ruining the future of our beloved country. Ghost of old Pakistan is adding fuel to this fire. This international nuclear smuggler got it wrong about Bangladeshis, they aren't docile but gentle and cultured, necessary traits to build a modern society.

AliTuesday, December 18, 2012 01:09 AM GMT+06:00 (115 weeks ago)

In the bigger picture and greater eventual scheme of things and historical significance, Pakistan should put the nation's existence first. Any further disintegration of Pak will not be good for the region.

What is perplexing is how a trained and fully equipped army is attacked by part timers? However, what scientist Qadeer has said is absolutely and alarmingly true.